Being an engaged grandparent can have wonderful effects on brain health, as highlighted by a recent study that discovered that caring for grandchildren might act as a protective factor against cognitive decline and dementia in older adults.
Lead researcher Flavia Chereches shared insights on the significance of this role, noting, “Many grandparents provide regular care for their grandchildren—supporting not just their families, but society as a whole. However, it raises an important question: does this caregiving also offer benefits to the grandparents themselves?”
The research team aimed to explore whether looking after grandchildren could enhance grandparents’ health and potentially slow cognitive decline.
Ms. Chereches, a doctoral candidate at Tilburg University in the Netherlands, along with her colleagues, analyzed data from 2,887 grandparents in England, all aged 50 and above, with an average age of 67. Participants engaged in surveys and cognitive tests three times between 2016 and 2022.
The survey inquired whether the grandparents had provided care for a grandchild in the past year and how often they had done so. Activities included overnight stays, caring for sick grandchildren, playing together, helping with homework, driving to school and activities, or preparing meals.
The findings were enlightening: grandparents who participated in childcare, regardless of how often or the type of care they provided, scored higher on memory and verbal fluency tests than those who did not engage in caregiving. This was true even after accounting for age, health, and other variables.
Published in the journal Psychology and Aging, the study also revealed that grandmothers who provided care experienced less cognitive decline over the duration of the research compared to their counterparts who did not.
Chereches emphasized, “What stood out to us was that being a caregiving grandparent seemed to have a more significant impact on cognitive functioning than the frequency of care or the specific activities they engaged in with their grandchildren.”
She added, “While further research is necessary, it appears that the benefits of grandparent caregiving might not hinge on how often care is given or the specific activities involved, but rather on the enriching experience of being actively involved.”
In the UK, around five million grandparents take on childcare responsibilities, with nearly 90% babysitting at least once a week, as reported by the nonprofit Age UK. One in ten grandparents cares for their grandchildren daily, with many stepping in to help their children save money and support their young families.
Age UK highlights that “gran-nannying” can bring tremendous benefits to older adults, keeping them mentally and physically active while helping to reduce feelings of loneliness, provided that the caregiving experience is enjoyable and not overly burdensome.
As we celebrate the invaluable role of grandparents, let’s remember to cherish these connections and the positivity they bring to both their lives and the lives of their grandchildren.
